Tag Archives: iOS

We all know the iPhone is a powerful little tool. We’ve grown up with the various generations, from the early first generation, to the brilliant iPhone 6S. One of the best things about the smartphone is that it keeps on surprising us! You can use an iPhone for months, and still find new functionality along the way. That’s what today’s post is all about. We’re looking at all the various tips and tricks that Apple have snuck into the new iOS program. (Most of the tricks we’re looking at are on the latest iOS, so some older models might not apply).

Medical ID

This is not only one of the coolest tricks, it’s also one of the smartest. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it. But if you do, it might just save your life. Using Medical ID, your phone can show all your important medical and contact info without opening the lock screen. If you’re involved in an accident, doctors and paramedic can see all the crucial info. You can add everything from blood type to prescriptions to allergies. You can also input emergency contacts. You can set all this up in the health app.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is growing quickly. More and more shops and stores are accepting this as a valid form of payment. There are even rumours that they’re eating into PayPal’s market share. Using Apple Pay, you simply pay wirelessly for real life goods. You can also use it to pay for apps, rather than linking up your bank account. Once you’re inside the app, you can quickly and easily make extra purchases too.

Use the headphone cord to take pictures

How often do you find yourself stretching to take that perfect selfie. Maybe you’re trying to get a whole group of you in the frame! Tricky, isn’t it? But, did you know there’s an easier way? All you have to do is plug your headphones in, and use the volume button. Much more flexible. Much easier. It’ll change the way you take pictures.

Siri, remind me…

Siri has come a long way from its early introduction. It’s turned from something that was fun to mess around with, to a super useful tool. One of our favourites is asking Siri to remind you to do something. Let’s say you got an email about a meeting. Just say “Siri, remind me about the meeting with John at 3pm”. And Siri will give you a nudge at 3pm. It’s that simple. You can do this for just about anything.

Find my phone

If you’re anything like us, you misplace your phone all the time. That’s where ‘find my phone’ comes in especially useful. Make sure you activate the ‘find my phone’ setting, and connect it to your iCloud account. Then, simply use your laptop to trigger a beep or vibration to your lost phone. Simple!

Now you know all the secrets, you can impress your friends! Do you know any more tips and tricks that we’ve missed?

These days, we all take mobile phone coverage for granted. No matter where we are in the world, we expect to get a signal. It is thus altogether worrying and annoying when we are in an area without a decent level of phone coverage. There was a time when, if you wanted the ultimate level of coverage, you would need to get a satellite phone. Those days are long gone, though, because you can now transform your existing phone into one of these devices.

What is a satellite phone?

You might be wondering what a satellite phone is and rightly so. These incredible devices are not always available on the mainstream market. That means that not everybody knows that they exist. Unlike standard mobile phones, this type of device connects to satellites in space. You may already know that there are many satellites orbiting the globe at this moment in time. If you plan on travelling to areas where there is unlikely to be phone coverage, it is worth having one of these devices. They can offer you an unimaginable level of coverage no matter where you are.

When would you need it?

Much of the time, people use satellite phones when they are out exploring the world. For example, if you plan to trek across the desert, you might want to have one of these devices on you at all times. That way, you can be sure that you can communicate with the rest of the world whenever you need to do so. Of course, if you are in the middle of nowhere, this is the type of device that could save your life. If you tend to worry about losing signal when you need it the most, it may be worth getting one of these phones. Alternately, you can now turn your iPhone into a satellite phone in just one simple step.

What is Thuraya SatSleeve?

The Thuraya SatSleeve is one of the most exciting new gadgets on the market. As the name suggests, this device is a simple sleeve that you slip over your current phone. At the moment, you can get this gadget for both iPhones and some Android phones. Once you have put the sleeve on your phone, you can start accessing satellite phone coverage. You can use all the normal features on your phone, and so you don’t need to worry about usability. It is crucial that you are cautious when using this system, though, or it could cost you a small fortune.

How much does it cost?

The sleeve itself costs around £400, which is quite a lot when you consider the average cost of a smartphone. Once you connect to a satellite, calls and messages will cost you much more than they do on your current plan. That is why it is crucial that you only use this gadget when you need to do so. The specialist technology is not for day to day use, but for extreme circumstances. Regardless of the cost, the fact that this brand new technology is available to everybody is exciting news.

These days, we all need technology to aid us in our everyday life. There are so many apps on the market right now that you can control your entire life with your smartphone or tablet. It is not just citizens who use apps all the time, though – professionals also need them in their daily activities. It might surprise you to learn that some of the most technical career people, such as pilots, use this type of technology to help them. When the tech fails, though, there are catastrophic consequences.

Until as recently as 2013, the major airlines in the world tended to use paperwork on board. Pilots would often have to carry reams of paperwork with them, which seemed a little unnecessary. That year, American Airlines made the crucial decision to go paperless. The change would save trees and also save a whole load of cash in fuel each year. Aside from being better for the environment, this move made each pilot’s job easier than it was before that time. With the use of an online database and a simple app, the entire staff had access to all the information they needed. With much of the modern world using new high-tech gadgets, it made perfect sense that the professionals would too.

iPad Software

When the company chose to go paperless, they gave each of their pilots an iPad, loaded with all the apps they would need. While in-flight, the tablet means that any pilot can access a wealth of flight information, maps and features. In essence, this technology should mean that there are never any technical glitches. As we all know, though, no software works like clockwork. In fact, much of the time, it can fail you when you need it most.

App glitch (April 2015)

Last month, there was a glitch with the some third-party software, which caused the pilots’ iPads to stop working. American Airlines were quick to point out that the problem was with the app itself, rather than Apple’s software. The app in question was FliteDeck – a specialist piece of software that is only available to people within the industry. Unfortunately, the app stopped working for a brief period, which meant that many planes could not fly. According to sources, a duplicate database in the application caused it to malfunction. Without the app, there was no way for the pilots to continue in their jobs. That in itself just goes to show how much faith people put in technology.

Quick fix

When the problem arose, the officials at American Airlines were quick to act. The management team told each pilot to uninstall and reinstall the app so that it might work. Some people found that doing so solved their problem altogether. Failing that, pilots flying certain routes had to use PDF copies of the database so that they could navigate the flight.

Most airlines around the globe have now switched (or are now switching) to paperless systems. That means that the majority of planes will need to use modern technology on board. The move is one that should mean flights are safer than they once were because the app offers pilots timely updates.

Don’t you just love sitting down and watching your favourite movie? These days, people don’t bother with the cinema as much as they used to. Why should they? Now, you can get all the latest movies without leaving the house. There are, of course, many subscription based services that offer customers the best TV shows and movies. Amazon Prime Instant Video is becoming increasingly popular, yet Netflix is still ahead of the game. But, what if users could watch movies without having to pay for them? The beauty of Netflix and its competitors is that they have a simple interface that allows people to choose any show they like. For a long time, pirate sites were not as easy to use, but that all changed with the launch of Popcorn Time.

Popcorn Time

A year ago, Popcorn Time launched around the world. The app was available for download on PC devices. Once users had it, they were able to access a world of cinematic joy without having to sign up to a contract. Once opened, the app looks much like Netflix. Users can choose genres and browse loads of different shows in seconds. The app connects to torrent sites and, once a user presses play, it starts to download the film. That means that the videos on the app are super high quality, if not particularly legal.

Apple’s guidelines

While users can install almost anything they want onto Window devices, Apple has high security. If you want to release an app onto the iPad or iPhone, you need to submit it for approval. Of course, there is no way that Apple would approve an app like Popcorn Time. The app allows users to get free content, which they would need to buy from the iTunes store otherwise. There is a legal grey area when it comes to the app as well. The app itself is not illegal, yet the torrents it accesses are.

New installation tactics

Last month, though, the people behind Popcorn Time came up with an ingenious way to make sure that the app was available to everyone. Users can download an installer for their Windows computer. Once they have it, it will allow them to transfer media from their computer to their iPad or iPhone. That means that people can start downloading Popcorn Time on their Apple devices with ease. Of course, it is only a matter of time before Apple shuts this function down.

Promotional video

In celebration of their one-year anniversary, Popcorn Time released a rather weird video. The video is a cartoon featuring popcorn people. It references a range of big blockbuster movies including the Clockwork Orange. It also features some creepy voice-over work. After many setbacks, it seems that this platform is still going strong. This video seems as though it is mocking those who tried to stop the app creators from releasing it. In the past, various companies have tried to shut the app down, yet it keeps coming back, and each time it is stronger.

In April 2015, Apple released its latest iOS, which promised to have loads of brand new features and updates. As with any new system, there was a whole load of hysteria, and many people speculated on what the new features would be. The system is available on both iPhones and iPads right now. Since its release, though, users have noticed a great number of problems with the system. One of the main issues with it is that some of the emojis appear differently depending on what version of iOS you have.

Apple’s iOS 8.3 beta

The latest system is the iOS 8.3 beta, which has only just hit the mainstream market. One of the main things people are saying about the upgrade is that, once you download it, it is impossible to downgrade back to iOS 8.2. Other than that, there are many new features that the new system offers users. The update allows Apple customers to use a better version of CarPlay. The feature means that users can sync their phones with touch screens in their car. Aside from that, the system has rectified some of the problems with previous iOS downloads.

New emojis

In the name of diversity, the latest upgrade has a whole new set of emojis. The emojis vary greatly in skin tone, which means that they are much more diverse than any previous images. The emoji keyboard has also had a rather dramatic makeover, meaning it is much easier to use the broad range of images than it used to be. If both Apple users have the latest iOS, there is no problem with these images. If, on the flip side, you try to send an emoji from a phone with iOS 8.3 to one with iOS 8.2, you might run into a range of issues.

For example, if you try to send a dark-skinned emoji from the new system to a phone with an older version of iOS, you will find that it is an alien. This issue has angered many iPhone users, who have taken offence to the problem. That is not the only example of the emojis not translating to older systems. The main problem with this feature is that some of the new emojis appear to be other things when you send them. That means that while you might want to send someone an emoji of a baby, they might get a nose instead. As you might imagine, this issue could lead to no end of problems when you are trying to communicate with other users.

Other changes to the brand new system

As if the new emoji keyboard was not enough to excite (or anger) users, there are yet more features available with the new system. As we have already mentioned, the system allows users to access an updated version of the CarPlay feature. There have been yet more changes to Siri and the iCloud, which should aid usability. The update is available to all Apple users, regardless of the generation of their device. Only time will tell if this update is an improvement for Apple devices.